Innovative Decarbonization: UH Researcher Offers Carbon-Driven Framework to Accelerate Shift Toward Net-Zero Electric Power Sector

Houston, Texas, and the University of Houston are at the forefront of the global energy market, leading the way towards a cleaner and more sustainable future. With the need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and transition to carbon-free sources for electricity generation, the University of Houston researcher Jian Shi has developed an innovative solution.

Shi's research, titled "A Unified Zero-Carbon-Driven Design Framework for Accelerating Power Grid Deep Decarbonization," has earned him a National Science Foundation CAREER award. This award provides him with $500,861 in funding and runs through February 2029.

"One of the most major challenges inherent in energy transition is the cost," says Jian Shi, director and founder of the Smart and ZerO-Carbon Energy Analytics and Research Lab at the University of Houston. "While reducing carbon emissions serves the best interest of society in the long run, the short-term financial burdens also need to be carefully evaluated to ensure that we have a safe, affordable, reliable and just transition for all."

Shi's framework, called "ZERO-Accelerator," integrates novel carbon-driven mechanisms, methodologies, and algorithms into current power grid operational practices. The goal is to expedite the transition from carbon-intensive to carbon-free sources for electricity generation while maintaining desired operational standards and societal obligations.

"The framework considers how to manage carbon allowance allocation and trading for electricity producers, how to maintain a 24/7 zero-carbon power grid for power grid operators, and how to enable consumers to understand their carbon footprint and participate in the zero-carbon grid operation," explains Shi.

In addition to his research, Shi is also focused on training the next generation of energy professionals. He aims to prepare them to understand, engage in, and lead the energy transition in the coming decades.

"As a Hispanic-serving institution with a diverse student body, UH has provided excellent opportunities for me to engage and train students from all backgrounds, to foster a more diversified and vibrant workforce in the future energy industry," Shi adds.

Shi acknowledges that his achievements are the result of collaboration and support from his colleagues.

"I believe no accomplishment is truly individual," he says. "Rather, it is a collective triumph achieved through collaboration, support, and shared dedication. As I reflect on the milestones I've reached, I am compelled to express my deepest gratitude to my esteemed colleagues whose unwavering commitment has been instrumental in not just my collective success, but our collective success as well."

With the funding from the National Science Foundation CAREER award, Shi is excited to dedicate himself fully to his long-term research goal. He aims to transform knowledge into actionable force for impact and collaborate with key climate stakeholders to shape the landscape of future energy ecosystems in Texas and beyond.

This research and framework developed by Jian Shi offer a promising solution for accelerating the shift towards a net-zero electric power sector. With the integration of carbon-driven mechanisms and the training of the next generation of energy professionals, the University of Houston is playing a vital role in driving the transition to a more sustainable energy future.